Using Humor as a selling technique

Times are getting tougher making sales more critical then ever before. A sense of humor is as precious a selling technique as any other. In a scene from Saving Private Ryan Tom Hanks was sitting in a half-demolished chapel sharing his thoughts with his sergeant, Frank. He was so under so much pressure that simply reaching for a glass of water made his hand shake uncontrollably. Tom Hanks then cracked a joke, which seemed to ease the Sergeant. That moment had a positive effect on the Sergeant. All that seriousness was peppered with a little sense of humor.

Source: 151 Quick Ideas to Motivate Your Sales Force